Better Business Bureau cautions Wi-Fi hotspot users

Wi-Fi hotspots are popping up everywhere, from coffee shops and libraries to airports and hotel rooms. But not all connections are secure, subjecting users to hackers and scams.

Unsecure Internet connections have been linked both to phishing, a popular emailing scam, and smishing, an SMS texting scam, according to a Better Business Bureau of Kansas Inc. release.

Those threats, the BBB states, grow exponentially when hackers obtain access to personal information through an unsecure Wi-Fi network.

The BBB cautions consumers about using non-secure wireless connections and sending personal information, including documents, contacts, photos and login information, through unencrypted website becaue other users on the network have the ability to see what is being sent. Encrypted websites scramble information sent over the Internet into a code that isn’t easily broken by other users, the BBB states. Websites are encrypted when they begin with “https” — the “s” stands for secure — and a lock icon at the top or bottom of the browser window.

The BBB offered the following Federal Trade Commission steps to ensure the Internet connection is secure:

• Make sure the connection is protected by a unique password. However, if a hotspot asks for a password just to grant access, consumers should proceed as if the connection were unsecured.

• Only trust home and work Internet connections that are protected by a customized user password. Wi-Fi hotspot connections with generic passwords are vulnerable to hackers.

• When sending personal information such as addresses, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers over the Internet, make sure the website is fully encrypted and the network is secure.

• Change your passwords frequently and use different passwords when creating new accounts. Do not use the same password for different sites. Repeated passwords increases the chances of multiple accounts being hacked.

For more advice on security scams, visit www.kansasplains.bbb.org.

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